Acumatica Cloud ERP – Manufacturing Edition – MRP with Blanket Orders

Manufacturers often receive long-term customer commitments that will be delivered in smaller quantities over time. These blanket orders provide valuable visibility into future demand, but that demand must be included in production and purchasing plans to be useful.

Acumatica Manufacturing Edition connects blanket sales orders with Material Requirements Planning, or MRP. This helps planners account for future demand while determining what materials to purchase, what products to manufacture and when those actions should occur.

Watch the video to see how Acumatica uses blanket orders within MRP to support more informed production planning.

Turn Long-Term Commitments into Planning Data

A blanket sales order records an agreed quantity that a customer expects to purchase over a defined period. Individual releases can then be created as specific quantities and delivery dates are confirmed.

Acumatica can include future blanket sales order lines as forecasted demand during MRP planning. Release orders are treated as regular sales order demand, helping the system reflect both expected requirements and confirmed shipments.

This gives planners visibility into:

• Future demand from blanket sales orders
• Confirmed quantities from release orders
• Available inventory and existing supply
• Required materials and components
• Suggested production and purchase orders
• Timing based on demand dates and lead times

Balance Customer Demand with Supply

MRP evaluates supply and demand across inventory, purchasing and production. Based on the information in Acumatica, it can recommend planned production orders, purchase orders or warehouse transfers to address projected shortages.

Planners can review these recommendations before creating supply documents. Exception messages can also highlight orders that may need to be expedited, deferred, placed on hold or adjusted as demand changes.

Using blanket order demand in this process helps manufacturers prepare for upcoming requirements without treating every future quantity as an immediate shipment.

Build a More Responsive Production Plan

Customer schedules can change, but manufacturers still need enough visibility to purchase materials and reserve capacity. Connecting blanket orders with MRP provides a clearer view of what may be required while keeping confirmed releases tied to actual demand.

Watch the video above to see MRP with blanket orders in action, then talk with 3Value about improving production planning within Acumatica Manufacturing Edition.